Today's Opinions

In these difficult economic times, Brunswick County resource agencies continue to see a growing number of people needing help.

From assistance with rent and mortgages, to help getting food and clothes, many nonprofits and area churches are feeling a crunch.

Instead of focusing on just band-aiding these difficult situations, many involved in community outreach want to do more—they want to examine the depth of poverty here and figure out long-term solutions to some of the issues that have plagued Brunswick County for generations.

President Ronald Reagan was a great proponent of supply-side economics. He believed in major tax breaks for businesses and corporations; believing businesses and corporate executives would objectively share the company’s profits with employees with little or no oversight.

On paper, supply-side economics is a great concept. It would be the ideal business model in a fair and just world. The problem is human nature. Greed and self-centered goals and objectives caused numerous executives to unfairly enrich themselves at the expense of hard-working investors or employees.

“In due time.” Oak Island Town Attorney Brian Edes wrote in an e-mail to Colin Tarrant, the attorney representing Brian Keese in a public records lawsuit, that he or Oak Island Town Administrator Jerry Walters would respond to a request for public records “in due time.”

A year and a half later, this matter remains unresolved. With a June 29 trial date set, the case could drag on for months.

As a business owner and manger I certainly appreciate the media’s role in disseminating news items of national and small town importance. I also appreciate its role in advertising and promoting local businesses.

However, after reading the article on the front page of the Beacon concerning “a Leap of Faith” written about one of the local real estate agents leaving her long-term affiliate company to embark in her own business disturbed my sense of fairness and loyalty.

If you’re like many Americans, the answer is the grocery store. And frankly, that disturbs me.

The grocery store isn’t where food comes from—it’s just from where it’s distributed. In reality, far too many people are unaware of the role of American agriculture in their daily lives...and what it really takes to have food on their dinner table.

Just a few generations ago, most people were a part of, and had friends or

To the persons responsible for the Sunday night vandalism at the Sunset Beach gazebo: We hope you enjoyed yourselves.

They chose to tear down the monument dedicated to Carmel Zetts, which was erected using donations, to thank her for her work with sea turtles. Not only did they tear it down, they also broke it into pieces and stole parts of it.

They also tore down the doggie bag station that had only been there a couple of weeks.